I haven't chimed in for awhile but wanted to applaud. This build is a great inspiration. The ideas you have come up with are amazing. This build is going to end up in a museum some day.. Keep it going.

My best ever...
I believe it was 1975. Don Garlits front engine dragster. "Wynns Jammer"
Wish I could find a photo of the box art.

All the body panels were clear. If I remember, the oil pan was clear as well and the crank shaft was a separate piece glued to the bottom of the engine so it was visible. Also that was my first kit that had a real rubber blower belt.
I was so careful putting it together that I actually got the crankshaft to turn in the engine. Not that it mattered, later when the blower belt went on because none of the rest of the pulleys turned. But I knew that I made it happen.

So I got thinking a while back on what else the Purple Cleaner would do.
Here's what I've put it through.

1. I poured it in a clogged drain.. Awesome results.
2. I used it to clean the Algae out of my backyard pond. Worked better than anything else.
3. Cleaned the rims on my wife's Jeep. This was amazing!

Other than an occasional car wash, these rims haven't been cleaned in 7 years. I put the cleaner in a spray bottle and used a common scrub brush then rinsed them off with a hose.
Here are some before and after photos.

Hence forth the "Budget issue" not to mention re-picking up the hobby of model building.
The progress looks great! I love the way the seats turned out. Very good plan there. Opting for shaving the body trim off so you wouldn't have to BMF was also a very bold move and turned out great.
Can't wait to see more.. Keep smiling

I guess I'll chime in on the "Structural fender well" question. As a person who has worked on a lot of 1:1 cars, the inner fender well isn't structural as much as it is just supportive. The solid frame under the car can actually hold take the load of the car without the fender wells. The radiator cross brace or bonnet slam panel' which ever you prefer to call it, holds the structure and shape of the front end (fenders) by bolting them to it and the rear portion of the fender is bolted to the front bulk head or fire wall. The fender well is there mostly to strengthen the fender due to its length and to keep a fair share of road grime from getting in the engine compartment.
On a true race machine, they can be taken out in the process of loosing weight and it would allow more air flow to cool the engine although you loose aero dynamics (toss that up for debate) Adding a lite amount of bracing would be an alternative to the 100 plus pounds you get rid of by taking them out.

Long winded, but I hope this answers the question.. Good luck and great progress so far!